Michael Joy had the nightmare that every dog owner has in 2016. His three cherished dogs ran off and disappeared.

Sam, a 4-month-old Lab mix, was still missing when two of the dogs returned. Sam was nowhere to be found despite Michael searching every single local shelter.

Hey, I’m going to find this dog, I told my wife, Michael said. I continued to follow the shelters’ website just in case he had appeared. I never stopped.

Michael and his family ultimately relocated to Kentucky, but he never lost faith that Sam was still alive and well. He frequently visited their former Georgia house in the hopes that Sam could still be there.

After nearly five years, Michael was still unable to locate Sam.

But suddenly, one day, Michael got a call from City Dogs Cleveland.

“She says, ‘We have Sam.’ I’m thinking, “This can’t be the same Sam!” in the back of my head. Michael uttered.

It’s Ohio, folks! This is like on the way to Michigan.

“So I asked, ‘Can you describe him for me?’ I said, “Where are you and when can I pick him up?” after she answered, “He’s a lighter-haired dog.”

Sam had received a medical examination at the shelter, and during the process of scanning him, they discovered his microchip. They were able to track him down to the Joys after that.

But suddenly, one day, Michael got a call from City Dogs Cleveland.

That same day, Michael traveled eight hours to Ohio in the hopes that Sam would still remember him. Over those years, Michael and Sam had undergone significant change.

You can just see the excitement in my face as I wait for them to pull Sam out as we go to the top. Michael stated, “I was like a kid at Christmas.

Sam shared Michael’s excitement. He kept bouncing all over his dad and wagging his tail nonstop.

Prepare your tissues for this one.Sam was delivered by police after they located him. Staff at the kennel ran a scan, discovered a microchip, and then called the listed number. Sam had actually been gone from Georgia for 4 years! Sam’s owner traveled eight hours to retrieve him, making it an emotional reunion.

— Cleveland’s City Dogs April 15, 2021 (@CityDogsCLE)

Michael won’t be allowing Sam out of his sight again anytime soon, it’s safe to assume.